It takes a great deal of bottle to even take a penalty, let alone attempt a Panenka chip shot. But to do that in the semi-final of an international tournament, and with the first penalty of the shoot out takes some big brass balls. And Antonio Candreva has bigger, brassier balls than me.

The Lazio midfielder was facing Iker Casillas, who had made a series of inspired saves during the match, but Candreva, making only his tenth appearance for his country, strode up and dinked the ball straight down the middle of the goal.

After a penalty like that, Candreva didn’t desrve to have his team mate Leonardo Bonucci blaze the ball miles over the bar as Spain won through to the final.